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First and Final Thoughts on Selfies

A disturbing photo gallery from NorthJersey.com popped up in my news feed this morning. Fifty-five reader-submitted travel selfies from the summer of 2014. Almost all of them are weirdly angled close-ups, a bit fuzzy, and you can kinda see something of interest in the background, like this one submitted by Johanna Abahoonie of Seaside Heights. That’s Juliet’s balcony in Verona, Italy, or so she says.

I’m asking you to consider something extraordinary. The next time you whip out your phone to snap that selfie, take an extra second or two and ask a stranger to take your picture. Everyone, everywhere knows how to work a cell phone. In the States, language shouldn’t be an issue and if you’re overseas and haven’t mastered “please” and “thank you”, you shouldn’t have boarded the plane. I guarantee you’ll get a better photograph and maybe a chance to strike up a conversation with a stranger and get a local restaurant recommendation.

7 thoughts on “First and Final Thoughts on Selfies”

Cathy, I am sure I could not take credit for the selfie, but I know as a Mom, and general the one with the camera, I was never seen in pictures of family gatherings unless I turned the camera on myself. Your advice is spot on as I had to learn to hand the camera to someone and say “I’d like some proof I was here too.”

Here in Korea, camera sticks have become popular so that people can take selfies. But, I agree if someone is around whom you can ask to do the snapshot for you, then do so. But if you’re off the beaten path, that may not be an option. In that case, camera sticks are beneficial so that you don’t get those awkward angles.